Ethics for Nurses
Programme Overview
As healthcare delivery in Singapore grows more complex, nurses are increasingly required to navigate ethical challenges involving patient autonomy, clinical decision-making, legal obligations, and institutional responsibilities.
Ethics for Nurses is LKCMedicine’s first postgraduate clinical ethics programme designed specifically to equip registered nurses in Singapore with the expertise to navigate complex ethical decision-making in modern healthcare. Developed in close collaboration with Tan Tock Seng Hospital and delivered through a flexible blended learning model, the programme supports nurses at various stages of their careers with practical ethics frameworks grounded in real-world clinical practice.
The programme will be launched in January 2027, starting with the Graduate Certificate intake, followed by progression pathways to a FlexiMasters and Master of Science (MSc), preparing graduates for enhanced roles in patient care, ethics deliberation, and leadership.
Curriculum
Ethics for Nurses is designed as a tiered, stackable pathway allowing for progressive specialisation. All levels are offered on a part-time basis.
- Graduate Certificate in Ethics for Nurses
This 12-month programme consists of seven core courses (totalling 7 AUs) that build foundational knowledge in clinical ethics. The curriculum is delivered through a blended model of online learning, chatbot interactions, case analysis, and on-site seminars and practicums.
The Graduate Certificate is planned to launch in January 2027.
Course Title No. of AUs Core / Elective A Practical Approach to Philosophical Underpinnings in Nursing Ethics 1 Core Duty and Trust in the Nurse-Patient Relationship 1 Core Consent to Treatment and Mental Capacity 1 Core Vulnerable People 1 Core The End-of-Life and Dying Patient 1 Core The Voice of Nurses in Clinical Ethics 1 Core A Nurse's Fitness to Practise 1 Core - FlexiMasters in Ethics for Nurses
This 15-month programme comprises eight new courses (totalling 8 AUs) designed to build on the Graduate Certificate foundation with more advanced topics in leadership and institutional ethics.
The FlexiMasters is tentatively scheduled to launch in April 2028.
Course Title No. of AUs Core / Elective A Practical Approach to Legal Framework in Nursing Practice 1 Core The Clinical Ethics Committee 1 Core Ethics at the Institution Level 1 Core Ethics in Public Health and Preventive Medicine 1 Core Cutting Edge Healthcare Technology and Ethical Implications 1 Core The Nurse Beyond Patient Care Responsibilities 1 Core Mental Health and Mental Capacity 1 Core Putting It All Together 1 Core - Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing Ethics and Leadership
This 24-month programme includes a combination of common core courses, electives, four discipline-specific core courses, a short internship, and a final capstone project, totalling 15 AUs.
The Master of Science (MSc) is tentatively scheduled to launch in October 2029.
| Course Title | No. of AUs | Core / Elective |
|---|---|---|
| Evolving Healthcare Landscape of Singapore | 1 | Core |
| The Ageing Population and Impact on Healthcare System | 1 | Core |
| Basic Quantitative Research and Methods | 1 | Core |
| Basic Qualitative Research and Methods | 1 | Core |
| [Learners will choose 1 out of 4] 1 - The Healthcare Financing Model and Impact on Outcomes | 1 | Elective 1 |
| [Learners will choose 1 out of 4] 2 - Healthcare Leadership and Governance | 1 | Elective 2 |
| [Learners will choose 1 out of 4] 3 - The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on the Healthcare System | 1 | Elective 3 |
| [Learners will choose 1 out of 4] 4 - Mandatory Ethics Education for the Doctors: Costs and Benefits | 1 | Elective 4 |
| Ethical Leadership in the Healthcare System | 1 | Core |
| Social Justice in a Healthcare System Caring for an Ageing Population | 1 | Core |
| Ethics Education for Nurses: The Next Step | 1 | Core |
| [Learners will choose 1 out of 2] 1 - Practicum with Healthcare Institution Clinical Ethics Committee | 1 | Core |
| [Learners will choose 1 out of 2] 2 - Practicum with LKCMedicine Team-Based Learning on ethics for medical undergraduates | 1 | Core |
| Capstone Project | 6 | Core |
Application for the AY2027 Graduate Certificate intake is not yet opened.
Application Criteria:
The requirements for the tiered Ethics for Nurses programme suite are sequential, ensuring that participants build upon a solid foundation as they advance through the qualifications.
| Graduate Certificate (GC) in Ethics for Nurses | Applicants must be registered nurses with a minimum of 2 years of working experience to be eligible for the Graduate Certificate in Ethics for Nurses |
| FlexiMasters (FM) in Ethics for Nurses | Applicants must successfully complete the Graduate Certificate in Ethics for Nurses |
| Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing Ethics and Leadership | Applicants must successfully complete the FlexiMasters in Ethics for Nurses to progress to the final MSc stage |
The selection of candidates will be jointly managed with our key industry partners to ensure alignment with the profession's needs.
| Programme | Fees |
| Graduate Certificate (GC) in Ethics for Nurses (7 AUs) | $14,000 excludes GST, all course materials and books. |
| FlexiMasters (FM) in Ethics for Nurses (8 AUs) | $16,000 excludes GST, all course materials and books. Does not include Graduate Certificate course Fees of $14,000. Learners must complete the Graduate Certificate before undertaking the FlexiMasters. The programme fees are reviewed annually and may be revised. The University reserves the right to adjust the programme fees without prior notice. |
| Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing Ethics and Leadership (15 AUs) | $30,000 excludes GST, all course materials and books. Does not include Graduate Certificate and FlexiMasters course fees of $14,000 and $16,000 respectively. Learners must complete the Graduate Certificate and FlexiMasters before undertaking the Master of Science (MSc) in Nursing Ethics and Leadership. The programme fees are reviewed annually and may be revised. The University reserves the right to adjust the programme fees without prior notice. S$5,000 deposit required - This amount will be deducted from the full billing of the course. Non-refundable & non-transferable (Payable upon acceptance of offer of admission) |
| Full Programme (Consolidated GC + FM + MSc Pathway) | $60,000 |
Course Deferment
Any request for course deferment for successfully-admitted applicants is assessed on a case-by-case basis. Each deferment is for a period of one Academic Year (i.e. one intake).
Course Withdrawal Policy
Matriculated students must write in to the School to formally withdraw from the programme, however there will be no refund for the Tuition Fee and Student Services Fee.